My Pet World: Here's how to help feral cats survive the winter
When renting, we dug 4x8 foot sheets of plywood into the ground, creating a footing and a sturdy enclosure for our previous dogs. The wood was reinforced with cinder blocks sunk into the ground in front of the wood. The wood was waterproofed, and it kept our dogs safe, and our neighbors happy.
I hope someone will utilize our cheap dog enclosure, so we will not have to read about such a nightmare ever again.
- Barbara, Tucson
Dear Barbara,
Almost every neighbor-to-neighbor pet problem can be resolved if an animal stays on and/or is restrained on their properties or kept on a leash. Keeping a dog that digs under or jumps over a fence can be challenging, but there are ways to do it. I have used chicken wire around the base of a fence to keep my dogs from digging.
Let's not lose sight that, per your recounting, a person baited a puppy they suspected might be the culprit with the intention of killing the dog. The woman should have called animal control to report the problem and taken video to prove it. What resulted was a horrible tragedy that I also hope never happens again.
Dear Cathy,
We have a 3-year-old healthy, active black lab/shepherd mix named Tex. He absolutely loves ice cubes. Anytime I go into the freezer, he is there waiting for his treat. He gets one or two, which he promptly chews and enjoys. Any particular reason or concern regarding Tex eating ice cubes?
- Grace, Massapequa, New York
Dear Grace,
Many dogs love ice cubes. They are a great no-calorie treat that satisfies their need to chew. My only caution is to make sure the ice cubes aren't too thick, like the ones that might be created from an over-filled ice tray. Only give Tex ice from half-filled trays or from an ice-maker as they tend to produce more slender ice. We don't want him cracking a tooth.
You also can drop the ice into Tex's water bowl, so the ice melts and softens a little before he chews it. Other than that, ice is a perfectly acceptable treat that makes many dogs very happy.
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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)
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